Elder – Nancy Ward

ELDER

Nancy Ward

Nancy Ward is a kind, well-spoken, positive, and loving eighty-five-year-old Tahltan woman from the Thud ga family. Her parents are Nancy Frank and James Low Sr. Her grandparents are May Brown and Benny Frank. She currently resides in Sechelt, British Columbia.

Nancy is the proud mother of two children, proud grandmother of five, and proud great grandmother of six. Nancy is also a residential school survivor. She attended three different residential schools. There, she experienced deep hurt and witnessed many heartbreaking moments which have stayed with her throughout her life. She suffered physical, mental, verbal, emotional and sexual abuse. Nancy has lived her life with scoliosis from malnutrition caused by her time in residential schools. She was starved. Nancy, like many, many innocent children, suffered greatly. “Nobody cared. Nobody cared about what happened in those schools,” she stated.

K’insē, is her Tahltan name, meaning strawberry. Her name was thought of by her great-grandma and her mother. When she was young and her family could not find her, they always knew where to look. Nancy would always be sitting in a strawberry patch. She shares that she never forgot her name through all the residential schools she went to. It was so special to her, and she was so happy to have that name. Nancy is an avid writer. She writes about her life, her experiences, and her belief that current and future generations are stronger because of what she has overcome. She is a truly beautiful storyteller, remembering her life in detail, sharing each word with a distinct emotion of love, sadness – and ultimately, optimism and faith.

She recalls many stories from when she was young in territory, including time spent in harmony with nature, at Fish Camp with her family, gathering and working, singing songs, and sharing together in love and joy. At Fish Camp, her job was to skewer rose hips with a long beading needle and thread to make tea. Everyone worked hard. She shares lovely memories of evenings under the stars, where everyone would come out of their tents after a long day’s work with musical instruments and celebrate together. She remembers the singing, the music, the dancing, and the Indian ice cream! The happy times have stayed with her. Time spent with people who loved and cared about her.

She shares that when she was young and picking berries with her grandmother, her grandmother shared a line which always stuck with her, to “thank the great spirit”. Nancy has connected with spirit to help her throughout her life, to give her strength and wisdom. Through connection with spirit, she overcame many challenging and unthinkable situations, which have led her to where she is now. In many instances of her life, she was guided in ways she did not understand at the time. Upon reflection, she can see spirit has always been with her, helping.

When Nancy was in her adulthood, she visited a Chiropractor who, after seeing an X-ray of Nancy’s spine, and hearing her stories and about her experiences in residential schools, vowed to treat her, free of charge, from that day forward. He has kept her walking and mobile, even creating a custom brace for her which she uses at home. “You should write a book,” he gently conveyed to her. And write she does. Writing all her experiences, thoughts, and insights in a scribbler. She hopes to finish her book soon. In the early 2000’s, Nancy was interviewed in Vancouver by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC). She shared that she did this so that her experiences would reach Ottawa and that the horrible acts and treatment she received and witnessed in residential schools would never happen again.

Nancy was transformed through her experiences and through love. Spending twenty-two beautiful years with an amazing husband who loved her, encouraged her, and helped her to build her confidence and strength. Nancy became the protector, the amazing cook, the nurturing mother – everything she never had throughout the dark times of residential school – for her family. Because of her experiences, she always made sure her children were fed, clothed, loved, hugged, supported, heard – everything she did not receive.

She states, “it does not matter what happened to her,” she strongly believes that future generations are better for what she had to endure. Her heart and spirit are so full of love and strength.

Nancy shares that she is so proud of the young generation and of the Tahltan Nation. She is so proud of young people who are educating themselves. She also shares that she is so impressed by Tahltan President Chad Norman Day, and all the things the Tahltan Nation has on the go. Tahltans have a voice and are being heard. Nancy shares that her grandchildren are learning Tahltan language online, connecting with their culture and expressing themselves through their passions including through art.

Mēduh, Nancy.